Add classpath to netbeans maven project

I stuck with topic-starter issue also for a long time. My goal - put config files for debug purpose in project root and extend classpath to ${basedir}, so this code:

String appConfigLocation = System.getProperty("config.location");
if (appConfigLocation == null) {
    logger.error("System property 'config.location' is not set...");
    System.exit(1);
}
InputStream appConfigStream = Main.class.getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(appConfigLocation);
if (appConfigStream == null) {
    logger.error("Can't find resource {} in classpath, fix 'config.location'...", appConfigLocation);
    System.exit(1);
}
Properties appProps = new Properties();
try {
    appProps.load(appConfigStream);
} catch (IOException ex) {
    System.out.println("IO error during loading of {}...", appConfigLocation);
    System.exit(1);
}

read configs from ${basedir}. I like that instead of putting them to src/main/resources.

Check sources of ExecMojo.java for v1.2.1 http://grepcode.com/file/repo1.maven.org/maven2/org.codehaus.mojo/exec-maven-plugin/1.2.1/org/codehaus/mojo/exec/ExecMojo.java?av=f :

if ( CLASSPATH_TOKEN.equals( args[i] ) ) {
    commandArguments.add( computeClasspathString( null ) );
}

and and v1.3.2 http://grepcode.com/file/repo1.maven.org/maven2/org.codehaus.mojo/exec-maven-plugin/1.3.2/org/codehaus/mojo/exec/ExecMojo.java?av=f:

if ( args[i].contains( CLASSPATH_TOKEN ) ) {
     commandArguments.add( args[i].replace( CLASSPATH_TOKEN, 
                           computeClasspathString( null ) ) );
}

So update NB config Execute goals to new version:

process-classes org.codehaus.mojo:exec-maven-plugin:1.3.2:exec

and use complex -classpath args in exec.argsparams:

exec.args=-classpath %classpath:.:"${basedir}" \
    -Dconfig.location=app.properties \
    -Dlogback.configurationFile=logback.xml \
    ${packageClassName}

Fix any action you need to have such behavior:

See also:

• http://wiki.netbeans.org/FaqEnvVarsDuringRun
• http://wiki.netbeans.org/FaqSysPropsDuringRun

Hi I had a similar need to give NetBeans7.4 a classpath to a jar with a driver outwith Maven dependencies e.g. c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_25\db\lib\derby.jar in a Java Maven project called MyProject.
As you were thinking with the Run > VM Options, I would suggest the following:
1) right-click on MyProject to open project Properties
2) in 'Project Properties' pop-up, select 'Actions'
3) locate 'Run pproject' among the 'Actions' and select it
4) edit in 'Set Properties' text box entering
exec.args=-cp %classpath;.;"c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_25\db\lib\derby.jar" biz.letsweb.derbyconnect.App exec.executable=java exec.workingdir=c:\Users\Tomasz\Documents\NetBeansProjects\DerbyConnect\target\classes
Alternatively edit nbactions.xml analogically. Once I did this, I could simply run the project inside NetBeans by pressing green arrow.

what about having the properties included as ? and those you use locally only have in a 's and activate that profile on local machine?

This is how I've been adding classpath to many of my projects

<build>
        <plugins>
            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>2.4</version>
                <configuration>
                    <archive>
                        <manifest>
                            <addClasspath>true</addClasspath>
                            <classpathPrefix>lib/</classpathPrefix>
                            <mainClass>com.nitinsurana.policereports.GUI</mainClass>
                        </manifest>
                    </archive>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>
        </plugins>
    </build>

An outside the box solution I ended up using for my similar case in NetBeans 7.3.1:

Adding files to java classpath at runtime

private static void addSoftwareLibrary(File file) throws Exception {
  Method method = URLClassLoader.class.getDeclaredMethod("addURL", new Class[]{URL.class});
  method.setAccessible(true);
  method.invoke(ClassLoader.getSystemClassLoader(), new Object[]{file.toURI().toURL()});
}

This gives me a hacky way to add files to my classpath at run time via program arguments. Related notes I compiled while researching:

To include a dependency for compilation only, not runtime set: Dependency Scope

<dependency><scope>provided</scope>...</dependency>

To exclude a dependency from the shaded jar, set: Exclude

<exclude>groupId:artifactId[[:type]:classifier]</exclude>

To copy resources to the target directory from outside the typical source directory: Copy Resources

<project>
  ...
  <build>
    <plugins>
      <plugin>
        <artifactId>maven-resources-plugin</artifactId>
        <version>2.7</version>
        <executions>
          <execution>
            <id>copy-resources</id>
            <!-- here the phase you need -->
            <phase>validate</phase>
            <goals>
              <goal>copy-resources</goal>
            </goals>
            <configuration>
              <outputDirectory>target/extra-resources</outputDirectory>
              <resources>          
                <resource>
                  <directory>extra-resources</directory>
                </resource>
              </resources>              
            </configuration>            
          </execution>
        </executions>
      </plugin>
    </plugins>
    ...
  </build>
  ...
</project>

Note that the base path for directory is the project home. The linked post has <filtering>true</filtering> which can cause "invalid mark" in Netbeans 7.3.1.